The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - STU - Neil Everett and the Top Five SC Anchors

Episode Date: July 28, 2023

Stugotz and Mikey A are joined by former long time SportsCenter anchor and fellow Dead Head, Neil Everett to talk about his departure from the WWL and his love for the Gratful Dead. Plus, top 5 SC anchors of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Stu Piotite, home of the greatest medium I had ever to walk the planet. Ok, here's a deal, he's a true icon in every sense of the word. He's loved and feared more than any being to grace his planet. They still got to ya, they are bad with the voice that sounds like bearer whiter be got to say hey let's do it baby! God himself would pay 3999 for a cameo. Fact of the matter is, you are about to embark on a transcendent experience that can only be described as psychological nudity. This is StuGox and this is StuPodony!

Here we go Jim! Tony! Welcome into another episode of Stu Potty, the biggest podcast in the world. Thanks to you. Please subscribe. Great review, unsubscribe. Re-subscribe. Re-rate. Re-review. By doing that, you have made us the biggest podcast in the world. We appreciate it. Big of an Oprah. Unbelievable. For two weeks. This is an amazing run. We appreciate it bigger than Oprah. Unbelievable for two weeks.

It was an amazing run. We appreciate it. Do it again, if you can. We are very excited for our guests coming up this week. It is Neil Everett. Long time Sports Center anchor. Really good, dude. Cool vibe, fellow dead head.

Mikey A, I am very excited about this because I hold Neil Everett at such high regard. He is absolutely in my top five sports center anchors of all time. Oh, wow. That's a big lit. I know. Top five sports. I'll tell you this, he's definitely one of the top five people that I actually got

to work with at ESPN in terms of just just a cool dude, just totally chill, just absolutely awesome to work with. Top five, I think he makes my list too. He was so Mike, he's so good at TV, he's so relaxed man, it's unbelievable. Yeah, he's yeah, we're gonna do this aren't we? Yeah, we're gonna do a top five, we're gonna do a top five sports and a rinkers of all time, each of us. We're gonna do a list as we headed to the Leverit right now because I'm excited. He was let go by ESPN. He's not the only one that's been a ton of people who have been let go recently by ESPN. And I've told you this for a number of weeks now in a number of months. ESPN has shifted its priorities away from kind of the talent. Now you'll see, you know, guys like Scott Van Pelt and Mike

Greenberg and those guys, Reese Davis, who are very good at television, they'll be hosting all the main things that ESPN has to offer. But ESPN has shifted its focus to a play by play company. And they should quite frankly, I don't even disagree with the strategy because as I've said, play by play is the one thing. It's appointment television. And it might be the only thing left that we have that is appointment television.

You cannot tape a game and watch it three hours after the fact. Social media is going to ruin it for you. And so Neil Everett was one of those casualties. He's a great friend. I'm certain he'll do some great stuff moving forward here, but I am, I'm excited to talk to him about his time at ESPN and what a great sports center anger he was and kind of the emotions and the feelings of no longer being at ESPN. I am going to give him some advice, Mikey.

I am. I'm going to tell him just try it out. Listen, they take the ESPN card away from you. Okay. They actually take your badge away so you can't get into the building again, but you have to still run with the ESPN card, okay? You have to call restaurant, you have to book reservations as if you're Neil pepper hit sports center racker because no one's going to notice for like five years, okay? You got to get a die hard sports fan that notices things like

that. That painted it to the trades. All right, I think I finished my list and I am just shocked at who I left off because there are some juggernauts that just, oh well, I, man. Listen, I just put together my list. It is impossible to do this without hurting somebody's feelings, right? Like at somebody who's a friend, like I have left several friends off of this list. Me too.

There have been so many great sports and our anchors over the years, man. Some of them, some of them would be like, nope, you made, you made the right choice leaving me off, but there's one or two that have been like, how do you, how do you not put me on there? Yeah, I know. So how do you want to do this? Are you going to go first? You want like, are we going to go? I'll go, I'll go first and I'll go five. You can give all five right now.

Oh, I'm going to go all five right now. Okay, you want to go five five four four three. No, I'll do all five because I'm worried we'll end up with the same ones. And for me, for me sports center anchors, I go back to college. I remember like that was what was on in the dorms. That was on in the common areas. That was that was the thing that was always on, especially late at night when you're a college kid. So you got to really watch some of this stuff. So-

Right, the feel good addition was unbelievable. Remember that? The feel good addition? Yes. It was just always on. All right, so for me, number five, I go into calm. Linda Cohen was, I mean, she's a staple at ESPN. She's almost up there with the Bob Lee's and and the and the Chris Burmins. She is. Number number four, I got our guy Neil. I got our guy Neil Everett at number four. Wow. You know what it is? He was he was on really late. Right. No, I know. I know. Yeah. As you got older, he was on really late. Yes. Number three, I got Dan Patrick. Deep in. Deep. I mean, it almost didn't matter who they put with him. It was always. It was always awesome. So good. Number two, I got stew. I got stews

Scott. Oh, nobody. I mean, nobody. Yeah, no. I mean, what could you, what could you say about Stewart? That hasn't already been said, man, we're going to fly through this. And for me, number one, still to go SVP, SVP can handle it by himself almost more than anybody. And he's still doing it. And he's still really the appointment watching today. He's great. He is. No, he's fantastic. That's a pretty

good list. I imagine yours looks the same. I think I think Scott, I think Scott Fampel would tell you that Stuart Scott is the greatest of all time. I think Scott Fampel would tell you that. Like he would be embarrassed that you put him above the head of Stuart Scott. It's your list though. Yeah, it's my list. Tell them to make his own list. Why are we having some makeup conversation? That never happened, it is never gonna happen. We're having a fake argument with SVP.

Some of the make his own list. He hasn't even come at it. Normally. All right, so you think you and I have similar list here. I think we probably have four of the same five in different orders. Probably. All right. So for mid-A sports center is all about duos. It's all about great duos. All right. Like that's over over time. There have been some great duos. All right. So you're going to sneak in a sixth one. What are you going to do?

Obramin and uh, Obramin and Dan Patrick or something and it's gonna, gonna combine those. That would be the obvious one, right? Yeah, it would be. Maybe Craig Killboard and Haber, the field good addition that I referenced. Oh, I was like, there's like that. Number five, Jamel Hill and Michael Smith. His and hers. His and hers.

He's one of Ron. It was a short run. They controversial run. But what a run. I already see short run. They controversial run. But what a run. I already see where this is going. I love both of them. I did number four, Zubin Mahenti, Zubaniam. What happened to him

in the mornings and ESPN radio? Zubaniam. What happened in general tomorrow's on the S. We digress. Number three, Jonathan coachman coach. Coach, he was great. So good. Number two.

Our boy will be joining us in just a minute. Why are you laughing at me? What's wrong with my list? Nothing. Not a damn thing is wrong. Number two, Neil Everett. Okay, yeah. Yeah, I mean, he's in your top five.

He's in my top five. I think he's in every one's top five. Number one, my top sports center raker of all time. I'm only gonna tell you this. I will not tell Neil this, okay? And hopefully Neil doesn't listen to the episode in which he is featured on it, okay? Stan Verret.

You did, you hit the guy. He's just slightly better. You're an ass. You're an ass. Don't, listen. Don't tell Neil, okay. Don't tell Neil, Mikey. Neil would argue that you're right. You probably would, but the reason I'm saying don't tell Neil is because I'm going to tell

Neil that he's the greatest for centurion. You're a ball time. It just is like, okay? What would Scott van Peltar argue about it? I don't care. It's all my tower list, okay? But who weird open to a weird show? Hey, van pelte back off. It's our list His and hers Why are you mad at me?

Because I'm mad at van pelte for arguing with me through you. It's rude. Tell them to bite down. Let me live. Let's get to our friend. I will tell you this quick story on Neil on Neil Everett. When Dan and I started an ESPN, our type of radio, our brand of radio was so foreign to everyone in ESPN. But a guy who got it very, very quickly was Neil Everett. Why? Because he's cool. He's got a great vibe. He's into different things. And he sent me a very long note right when we started about how much he loved what it is that Dan and I were doing for ESPN and how much he loved my character. I had never met Neil before. It was unbelievable to get that know from a guy

that I spent so many hours watching on sports center because he is a legend and he is great. So, and he's also just a kind individual. He did not need to do that. He did it. I shared it with Dan. It touched both of us. So, with that said, let's bring on the greatest sports center anchor of all time Neil Everett Mikey a One of my favorite people and certainly a top five sports center anchor of all time And I am certain that you agree is on the zoom with us right now. It is Neil Everett Do you agree with that Mikey a before we get started with Neil here who was coming home fresh from a golf tournament Because his phone battery was dying and I had to get to his old man just wobbling around the golf course commenting

on everyone's bad shots while not playing golf. But is he a top five sports center anchor of all time, Ikea? Of course he's a top five sports center anchor of all time as a matter of fact, I produced Neil for a few shows during COVID when he was doing some fill in radio stuff. And there's actually a little grateful dead connection in there. With one of the guests we had on that spoke for 45 minutes. I think you can guess who it might have been.

The great Bill Walton. It was. I think Neil said hello at 45 minutes later. He said, what do I do? I said, Neil, that's the beauty of Bill. Neil, that's the beauty of Bill Walton. Dan and I had him on recently. I've had him on several times. He went 47 minutes one time with me without stopping. But Dan and I, before we got started, we were actually placing bets on draft kings, okay? How many questions will we get into Bill Walton

in 30 minutes? We set the order at one and a half, and I took the under and I won. Exactly. Bet the under no matter what it is. You can even do it. You can even do under a half because it could be bill how boom and you don't even finish the question. He's got it going. Love the guy. He's the best. We'll get to the dead in a minute because Neil was at a dead and company show at San Francisco. But you were at a golf tournament earlier today and you were telling us stories of your dad criticizing everyone's game while not playing golf. I'd like to hear more about that if you don't mind. Well, my dad was a good golfer back in the day, but

he's 85 right now with a new knee and an old knee. And his wife is playing right now. And after a couple of holes, he says, I can't, I can't watch this. And I think she's like, please, don't, please go back to the clubhouse. So we go back to the tent, we go back to the 10th hole, which is a little par three right next to the clubhouse. And you can sit right behind the tee box. And my dad knows a lot about,

that's what I've learned today is that he does know a lot about golf. He golfed at Stanford. He was good back in his day. You know, he'd be like wrong club. He's got the wrong club in his hand. He's got the wrong club in his hand. And they told you to leave it short. Told you you leave it short. And now listen, it's just, it was funny stew gods. It was touching because he said, I don't know how many tournaments I have left in me. And I hope you'll take care of Maryland. That's his wife when I'm gone.

And that's the realization, you know, as we get older and whatever the father-son relationship is that every listener has and my other daughters too, it's, you know, they can be conflicting. And there's a lot of road that you've traveled and you know you just hope that you end on paved road in a good parking spot at the end of it because that's the best way for it to be. Neil how would you describe your vibe because you are one of the coolest people I've ever met just everything all of it just just all of it. Well thank you you, I think it really, it's really the assist is, it goes to Hawaii. You know, I moved to Hawaii in 85. I lived there till 2000 and I not gotten the ESPN gig. I would have died there. Probably younger.

Probably probably would have already died there. I just think, I think it was in a tough spot when I went there mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and I got accepted. And I kind of had to make peace with myself. And it took a long time. And I just think that I liked myself better. I liked myself best when I was when I had that vibe going. So I decided, you know, why don't you try and keep that vibe? You go to Connecticut, they try to take that vibe from you. Oh, yep. They don't

try. They just take it from you, Neil. I know. I wouldn't let them. I wouldn't let them. I got out. I think I got out just in time when they opened the LA office so I was able to say, you know what, I'm going to me and my vibe and my dog. We're going to go to LA. If you don't mind me asking because we don't do a lot like, I'm out of grief eater like Levitard, okay? But I'm wondering what was going on in your life at that time before ESPN hired you where you, it seemed like you were in a pretty low point. No. You know, I was, I was, uh, you know, failed marriage. You know, um, just living on the edge. Right. You know, you know, you know, what that is.

Yep. And, uh, you live on the, you live on the edge of answer. You're going to fall off the edge. And, you know, I fell off a couple times off the edge, but fortunately it wasn't, it wasn't a big enough drop that it, you know, broke both my legs or, you know, fractured my spine or anything like that. So that call came at the right time. It was a time to move on time to get gone on one light ahead. There was no way of knowing that that was 23 years of a sports center. So it worked out well. It seems like ESPN and Neil, I don't think you're alone

in this. Like it gave me an identity too, even though Dan and I had plenty of success locally beforehand, but those four letters, that platform, my parents being able to see me every day on TV, watch it, feel it, touch it. Oh, this is what he does for a living. It seems like in some way, shape or form, it kind of, it seems to be a bit, I guess. Well, yeah, I mean, it's certainly changed my, you know, my economic situation. Number one, I mean, when I started in Hawaii, I started as a sports information director at a job that was advertised in the newspaper because you still went to the classified ads for a job and it was a sports information job at a college and it paid 18,000 a year and they hired me

and they said, we're going to give you 20 and I was like, huh, damn! I am in tall cotton and you know it's just you know it's so the ESPN thing yeah I worked out you know it worked out well you know they they gave to me I gave to them. Neil let me tell you something for at least the next five years when you make a dinner reservations are trying to get a tea time still saying the 11th from ESPN no one notices a guy. Well, I think it's like, I think it's like when they say you're never a former Marine or you're never a former, you know, you're never a former Rose Princess. My wife was a Rose Princess in Portland and there was an article that said she was a former Rose Princess and she looked at me. She said, once a Rose Princess, always a Rose Princess. And so, so, hey, man, I think, you know, I think, I think we're, we're, I'm always going to be Neil from ESPN, but especially if it helps me, you know, it's, you know, get a better seat, better tickets. Yeah, I'm still doing it, Neil.

I'm three years removed, and it's still haste to go through the ESPN, and they're still biting on it, so. I thought you guys were on ESPN. That shows you how little I know. He thought we were still there. Yeah. I saw John Skipper, and I'm like, hey, must be another ESPN 3. I don't know.

That's so funny. What was it like? Like, I know, I think I heard an interview with you recently where you said you kind of saw the writing on the wall. And I think we all kind of as talented saw the writing on the wall where ESPN is shifting to, I don't blame them, by the way, to where they have all the play-by-play rights. And those are the things that people want to see

It's the one thing you can't take you got to watch it live social media will ruin it for you So you saw coming, but what was it like when you actually found out hey Neil great run, but the run is over What was that like for you? I was I was prepared for it. So, you know, listen business make mistakes all the time so I'm not special in that department So, you know, listen, business make mistakes all the time. So I'm not special in that department. And I prepared myself for it with the, with by working for the Portland Trailblazers the last couple of seasons.

So, you know, it was like, all right, you know, it's, you know, it's, it's time I decision to make. I laid track for it to knowing it was going to be made a couple of years ago. And away we go. You know, this is still crying over this. I mean, again, 23 years at any place. And at that place is a great run.

And it was a great time. And I'm thankful for the time that I have there. I'm very grateful and here we go. One of the blazers is going to trade Lillard to the heat because we're all waiting down here for this to happen. Yeah, I got nothing on that. I don't know what's going on with it's really interesting because Lill I, you know, um, yeah, I mean, I don't, I don't know what's going on with, you know, it's, it's really interesting because Lillard, you know, Lillard, first of all,

Portland is the only game in town. I mean, yeah, they got a couple soccer teams now, but Portland is in the fabric of that community. And Lillard is, I mean, he is so huge in Portland, just, I mean, you just, you know, it's, he's the big fish in the small pond. He's the whale in the small pond. He could run for governor and win. He does so much for the community. He's such a nice guy. I'll tell you a quick little Lillard story. So we're at, we're at Memorial Service for Bill Shanglion. He was the voice of the blazers forever. He's the one who coined the term rip city. And he had passed away 80 something years old and we're at this memorial and Lillard is standing

in the corner by himself and my wife's, and I had never met him because I only did away games. So when I go up there, they're on the road. So people like, what's the Lillard like? I'm like, I don't know, I didn't met him. He's in Phoenix tonight. I'm in Portland doing the game. So my wife's like, go over and introduce, and I'm like, no, no tonight. I'm in Portland doing the game. So my wife's like go over

and introduce, and I'm like, no, no, and I'm super introverted, except when the red light comes on, I can blow it up. But when there's no red light, I'm in second gear. And my wife said, maybe not even second, maybe first. But she's like, go, go, you're going to regret it if you don't go. I go, okay, all right. So I walk up and I go, hey, damn Neil Everton He goes, no, you are, man. And I said, well, you know, you know, we've never met and I just wanted to come over and you know Thank you for you know all the entertainment and all you do, you know, how you represent Portland He goes, man, we met before and I'm like, oh damn. I don't remember meeting game. This is uncomfortable I said I said we met before where are and he said it was my rookie here like, oh, damn, I don't remember meeting Dave. This is uncomfortable.

I said, I said, we met before where at? And he said, it was my rookie year. I was in Eugene at this bar called Taylor's and I met you. And I'm like, you're rookie year at a bar. Okay, I'm gonna give myself a pass on that one that I don't remember meeting you from Weber state then. But he remembered you, Neil. I mean, jeez.

Well, you know what? Let's get to the bones of it. That is what's impressive. Isn't it? I've got to felt the same way. I went back to my wife. I go, I met him before, but he remembers meeting me. So, you know, it's 20's funny, too, God's, because I don't know if you get this feeling, I'm 61. I still feel like a kid when I run into people who I admire, who are kids compared to me. Little is 32, 33 years old. And I'm like nervous to go up and introduce myself to him.

And then I'm all excited that he remembered me. And I think that's part of the beauty of this gig is the legends that you meet. And then if you're able to leave any kind of impact on them or memory with them, that's just, I mean, that's just I mean that's just gravy. Like I like through through ESPN in the Heisman, Heisman trolling, I've worked with 45 of the 60 Heisman trolling winners that are still alive. Wow. You know, and it's like like what a what a great run. What a what I mean, like what are we doing? What are you and I doing if we're not doing this? I mean, it feels like I'm not going to speak for you. I can't be running. It feels like it's going to be a huge drop on. You know, yeah, no, I can speak for myself. I'd be slinging beauty buns. That's what I'd be doing.

I'd be digging ditches, I think, or something. Or, you know, or, well, welcome to Walmart. Right. Well, let me talk and I always say that all of us should be doing these jobs with ski max on that we're stealing for a living meal. Absolutely. It's just, yeah, it's been, it's great. I love that, Dave, remember, was your wife ever impressed that Dave remembered you? Oh, my wife doesn't pay much attention to sports or me. So, you know, she's, she's, she's, she's the bomb, you know, she's a

Thera help, she's actually helping people in this life. Maybe that would work. Yes. Yeah. Unlike you and I. Yeah. Yeah, but Neil, here's the thing with what we do, okay? Not to, you know, not to get too into ourselves for a second, but the greatest compliment that day and I get is we took someone through a very difficult time in their life.

And I am certain that you've gotten some of that from fans. And for that, that makes us at least feel good. And I'm certain you're making you feel good because Neil, people do their glue to us. They watch you every night on sports center or in our case, they listen to our show every day. And do you hear someone say, hey, I'm a military vet.

I had a downtime in my life. You guys got me through it. You made me laugh. To me, that's the greatest compliment that someone could pay any of us. Oh, 100%. You know, I mean, through ESPN, I got involved with a nonprofit called Heroes Movement,

HeroesMovementUSA.org, where we've bought Jim memberships for veterans across the country. That all started with me meeting somebody through sports center. There's the, there's Mike for N Ryan in Virginia born with cerebral palsy who they said was, he was going to be a vegetable and he says, now I eat vegetables. He comes all the way out from Virginia with his mom and dad to visit me because I'm his favorite sports center anchor. He comes all the way out from Virginia with his mom and dad to visit me because I'm his favorite

sports center anchor. You know, things, there's so many stories like that that are just, you know, what you wish is, I wish I had a better memory and I wish I had jotted these down kept a journal because there's so many good stories that were a result of the position that I was in. And there were still be good story i mean you know i'm walking down the street and that story or again the other day and a guy comes by and goes hey you'll ever i go yeah hey what's up you know and then he says i love you on sports center i'm gonna watch when you are next i go i'm never on again bro so uh

but it was you know i'm like yeah but hey man life goes on and uh, but it was, you know, I'm like, yeah, but, hey, man, life goes on. And, uh, you know, it's, it's, you know, what I feel like, Stu got is that I have, uh, I've been outside my body, which I have been, uh, I've been outside my body watching this life that I've been living. Right. I want to tell you something because early on with Dan and I started out at ESPN, um, the world to me. This is why I mean there's a million reasons why I think you're a great person and you really are a top five sports center anchor for me all time. Okay. But you sent me a note just saying how much you enjoyed what it is that Dan and I did when I could promise you we were not get a ton of notes like that from anyone in ESPN, but Neil ever reached out to me

and I showed it to Dan and it meant a lot to both of us, sir, so thank you. Oh man, well you, I'm listening, you guys are, you guys get it done, man, you know what it is? It's reminiscent, I think of what Stan and I did. If you watch this show, you said, those guys are having fun. Yes.

And if you're not having fun, why are you doing it? And if we're having fun, then hopefully we're entertaining you because you're on the same wavelength as we are to some degree, are you wouldn't have dialed us in to begin with? Sure. So there's something about our personalities that you take to heart. And now if we can make you chuckle, you make you think,

give you chicken skin, you know, then we, you're part of our family, man. You're part of the, you know, you're part of Stan and my family at late night. Part of, you know, part of Dan and Stu got his fam, you know, you know, and you know, when they show that they show your producers and all you guys are cracking up and it's like, those guys are having a good time. And they're getting paid. Yeah, it's sports, man. It should be fun.

Yeah, we're not, yeah, we're not caring cancer. Okay. But, you know, I think the thing is, is just being relatable. None of us play, like, I know we all played sports growing up in high school, some of us in college, most of us would have professional athletes. And I think there's a reason the audience relates to someone like me and you, Stan Dan, as opposed to someone like Matt Haselback.

And I said that with all due respect to Matt Haselback, but he's lived a different life than we've lived Neil. Yeah, yeah. When they give, he, young, his walking papers, it's different than when they give Neil Ever ever to walking paper. That's exactly right Neil, were you even nervous because you have such a great vibe? It doesn't appear you ever get nervous. You're so cool and I am wondering were you nervous before your first sports center? Don't even remember it really so no no

Oh, I remember he is bad you weren't joking No, I remember as I bad. You weren't joking. No, I remember as I go back to Hawaii and I tell that my, you know, the, the, the O'Hana, the friends, the family, I'm like, Hey, I'm on, I'm doing sports center now. And all anybody said is when are you going to do a sports center commercial? That's all anybody cared about. Yeah. So it was nice that the Federer commercial turned out to be able to live for so long and they played that on my last show and all that.

But yeah, you know, there's all you got to have a little bit of, you know, it's, I don't know if nerves is the right word, but you better be on your game. Like, I'm not a good go out there and we'll just, we'll just wing this thing. I am not a winger. I, I worked at sports center job every night. I showed up and I did my homework. I you know, I'm not I can't tell you I couldn't tell you what's going on with the Miami Marlins. But if I can see I got that highlight that night, it'll sound like damn that dude knows the Miami Marlins. It's not what I know. It's what you think I know. You think I

know more than I know. So I better do my homework because I do not want to be exposed for what I don't know. To be honest with you guys, I'm not that huge of a sports fan. I don't sit at home and watch games. The sports took enough of my life as it was you know when Monday through Friday from You know for to midnight or whatever I was gonna be watching sports So yeah, I like I can't tell you the last NFL game regular season NFL game I watched just pay know it pay know it Well, one is because I stopped gambling So that's out and it's Sunday and I had Sunday Monday's stuff and it be like If I said in my wife, hey, we're gonna sit around here

and we're gonna watch the Titans and the Browns today. She'd be like, whoa, are we really? So no, no. So Neil's not gambling when gambling became legal, which is good. Because I tell Dane all the time, I gotta miss the days where I meet a guy in a back alley and hand them a paper bag of money, you know? Yeah, listen, there's a lot of vices that you can fill on the blank

on that one on. So yeah, you know, if everybody knows you're doing it, what fun is there in it? Yeah. What was what was stands reaction when he heard the news? Because Swartz Center for me early on, the attraction was the duos, whether it was dad Patrick and Keith Alverman, were the feel good addition. I think it was dad Patrick and Keith Alberman were the feel good addition I think it was Hayburn Kilborm which was fantastic and you would stand I think with a last kind of the last of the duos there and you guys were so great together such great chemistry and you could tell how close you were just on air just what good friends you guys were why do you think ESPN got away from that? And I am wondering what was stands reaction

when you heard that you were no longer going to be there with them. I don't know why ESPN got away from that. That you'd have to ask the people that make those decisions. But that it is interesting because we're at that point where you already know who won the game. Right. By the time we come on, for the most part, unless it's already know who won the game. Right. You know, by the time we come on, for the most part, unless it's a super late West Coast

game. You know, one, you probably have seen the highlights on your phone. So the reason to turn in that show is to see what kind of spin the two guys, the two people, whoever that may be be can put on it. And as we just mentioned, what kind of spin can Dan and Stu got put on whatever, you know, whatever they're going, whatever the topic of the day is, what kind of spin can Neil and Stan put on the highlights of the day. I know all the scores already. What are they going to tell me that I don't know?

How are they going to make me laugh? What are they going to say that's memorable? And that's what we did. That's what you guys do. And, yeah, and that's, you know, and and the thing is, my fastballs is still popping. Right. And, but, you know, that's, hey, you know, it's Dave Roberts. They took me out in the fifth. So, well, for a middle reliever, I mean, that was well done by you, Neil. I like that. What are you doing with all the free time now besides playing golf and having you get under a rank, or not, so I think everyone's a game. Yeah. I was up in a quarter lane Idaho for a week. That's beautiful country up there. Went to the dead show,

didn't run into you, but saw some dear friends there, went to a Neil Young concert at a 1200 seat outdoor auditorium in LA that I didn't even know existed till Neil Book Five nights in it. And now I'm up here for a week up here. You know, I've got a few things going. You know, negotiating with the blazers, trying to figure out, you know,

if I can do a little more since I've got a little more time, a lot more time. And, you know, Hawaii's in the mix, you know, some things going on there. And, fortunately, you know, I didn't make a ton of money at ESPN, but I made enough that, and I saved it, that I don't have to do anything right now if I don't want to. But I want, there's, you know, something will pop its head up and, uh, and, and we'll go from there. You want to roll with me? I mean, I don't know what we'll do, but I'm, I'm ready to roll with you, Neil. I mean, I can tell you that right now.

West Coast course on that. What do we think it here? I told you, I told you, that's the one thing your show has. It does not have you are East Coast bias. Yes, we are. You need a West Coast course on it. Dan Lovettart, this is my audition team. You don't need to audition. I mean, I could just iron you Neil if you like.

There you go. There you go. We know who's got the real power in that relationship. Oh no, I know. Mikey, what do we do here? What do you think? I'm thinking of West Coast Correspondent Neil Everett. What do you think? Nothing wrong with that as long as you send me out there every once in a while. Just to make sure you got everything he needs. Yeah, I'm going to need that. Comrex tied up, you know, I am not going to be able to figure out how to do that thing

with that. We're at 234. Yeah, I mean, I still I still got a VCR and an 8 track tape player. So I may need some technical help. What is the needle? These are two very different questions. So this one first, the most meaningful text you got after leaving ESPN, the most meaningful one you got.

I think Chris Burman, because I didn't know Chris Burman had, I didn't know Chris Burman texted first. That's right. And so I think that Chris Burman reached out to me uh Bob Lee sent me an email uh you know those guys are the those guys are the legends yeah those guys yeah like you talk about top five those guys are they're beyond you like they're you know it's like when you go what about Burman what about legal oh yeah they're they're they're above top font. You know, they're Hall of Fame. You know, they're, you know, emeritus. You know, I mean, they got, so they're so OG,

they get their own category. Right. So I think that was, I thought that was really cool because I have so much respect for both those guys. I mean, they built that place. The one that was most unexpected, I got a text from Dan Fouts. Wow.

Well, I was going to ask you, what's the coolest text you got, which is a very different question, and it seems like Fouts. Well, you know, Dan Fouts, I didn't know Dan Fouts even really knew who I was, and we both went to Oregon, and I've talked to him a couple times,

but it's not like I had Dan Fouts' number, and it's not like he had mine. He had to have asked somebody in our chain of acquaintances, how do I get a hold of Neil? And the fact that he did that, that was very meaningful to me. That's very cool. You're right about the dead and company shows. We both went to the first night in San Francisco.

Yeah. Did not see each other. Did you see Walton by the way? No, but I was in touch with my wife and dear friends with Laurie. Well, Bill's wife. And she was, so she was text to me, telling me where they were to come down to the floor

and dance with them. And I'm like, it's not that easy. You don't just, I can't describe. I'm with Bill. This is pointing so one time in, in, in, when we were in Bristol, and Bill was working for ESPN, and he got a hold of me and he says, Hey, you want to go to the fat dog concert with me tonight? And it was the rat dog and the almond brothers playing at that Hartford Alp and amphitheater

And I'm like yeah, and so I Show up and I get to the seeds and bills not there and we know we're like row 17 or whatever I'm like a bills out there then I look well bills standing in the front row of course and and so I go up and bills I got boom we watch we watch rat dog he goes, come on, we're going backstage. Haha. Geez, we go backstage. There's, you know, there's Greg Alman backstage and, uh, you know, that, you know, the dudes from Rat Dog, and I'm like, are you kidding me?

I mean, Bobby, where are you kidding me? You know, just, yeah, what a, you know, I mean, look at that. I mean, that alone makes that that that alone makes everything worth it Just that one night. Yes, I'm gonna flip my phone over See it in a second because I want you to see how easy it is to get down the bill Walton, okay? Can you see that? Do you get is that you next time that is me for some reason Bill made me push my belly out and lift my head up I don't know why I did that but that that is me and Walton at the Files wedding

company show in San Francisco, front of house. The best end was hanging out with Miles Teller right before that. Oh, so you were on the floor all three nights. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I was up in the bleachers, but you know what? And I'm usually such a seat snob, but I didn't get the tickets. And my buddy got him, Eric Epstein, shout out to E.J. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. And actually, it was kind of nice to be, to not, I'm not a huge crowd guy like that anymore in my, but the, the, the video presentation was excellent. And I, and I don't know how you can see it from the ground level. Boy, you can really see the Chameenian on the piano. They're just watching him go at it and

up close Bob Weir and then they take the break and he comes out in his Yellowstone outfit. Bob Weir and then you know they take the break and he comes out in his yellowstone outfit and and Mayor and just you know he's like You know just all the facial expression. So I really I really enjoyed it from from that point of view You know, it was a good way for me to see what is probably the last show or you know who knows what how they're gonna What they're gonna do next of this iteration. They'll be another one. Yeah. Yeah. I'll tell you a quick funny Walton story. So I'm at the New Year's show out in Golden State, the Chase Center, where the warriors play. And so my wife, my kids are with me,

but they leave, it's getting late. And it's just me and Walton, you know, sound, where on the side is, yeah, and he had someone else with him. I don't remember who it was, but we're front of has, saw, you know, side of the soundstage. And, uh, the second set ends and I knew there was a third set. It would start at midnight. It's New Year's Eve and Walton's like, all right, Stu got to go. And I'm like, all right, Bill was a pleasure. It was nice to see you're leaving for the third

set. He's got to go to next thing I know Bill Walton's on stage in a costume, counting them down to midnight. It was unbelievable. The guy's amazing. He really is. Oh, he's the best. He's the best. First, first dead show you ever saw was when? Oh gosh. First dead show I saw was RFK Stadium, Washington. I believe it was 88 or 89. They played loser. I mean, it was just, it was amazing.

So how about you? Mine was the 85 New Year show in Oakland. Damn. Uh, Ken Keezy got on the, uh, the, the, uh, the, the, the drum box and went nuts. And, uh, that was the first show I'd seen again with, uh, uh, big John and Eric Epstein. And then I moved to Hawaii. So I never saw another show for 15 years. That's crazy. I'm actually looking at it now because it's on Spotify. July 7th, 1989 JFK state even Philly. Yeah.

Little hell in a bucket, Ico, Little Red Rooster, Ramel on Rose and a loser. Oh. Yeah. Yeah. Unbelievable. What do you think of the show? Mayer's incredible, right?

Mayor, you know, it's funny. There's a place in New Haven. You might remember it called Toads. Yeah. Unbelievable. What do you think of the show? Mayer is incredible, right? You know, it's funny. There's a place in New Haven. You might remember it called Toads. Yeah. A little hole in the wall. I went down there years ago to a buddy guy. And buddy guy says, I'm going to bring out a little friend of mine.

An outcomes this 14 year old kid maybe. It it's John mayor who lives down there or did and this kid comes out and just you know You were like damn this kid can play yeah, you know, and then he got into the you know You're I love your body tonight or whatever and I'm like oh god, please stop and And then he's on stage with the dad. And I mean, I think even Jerry from upstairs would be like, on nice job, kid, nice job. No, dad, that was, you know, I was hesitant when they first started because I'm like, man, that catalog of music is tricky

and just being able to jam with those guys is really like the, to improvise the way. But it was a little slow at the beginning and then he slowly gained confidence. They slowly gained confidence. Got faster and faster. What you saw at the end there was them at their absolute best. So I'm glad you got a chance to see him.

Yeah, I mean, that Friday show, those first four songs, they came out just boom. Like I mean, they smoke it. Like they were taking the lead in the race and they were not going to get caught. Yeah. Neil, it's got to be honest, like turning on sports center, not seeing you anymore. It makes me emotional. It does. I'm, I'm certainly making you emotional as well. What are you going to miss most about that place, that job and what you did for, for over two decades?

Well, I put parental lock on my TV. So then I just don't have to see it because it's kind of like seeing an old girlfriend make out with somebody else. So I think that was the best way to go about it. So, you know, again, I don't, you know, I'm not a huge sports watcher. You know, it's not a show I would watch in my spare time to begin with. Right. The, you know, the live programming is, which goes back to, hey man, this is where they put their dough. I'll watch a college football game and all that, but it's just, it's a tremendous part of

an unbelievable journey for me. There were a lot of steps in 23 years in that journey. But you know, it's what's next can't wait for what's next. There's so many great stories out there. There's so much fun to have. You know, we got, you know, I'm in the, I'm on the back nine. You know, I'm probably, you know, I'm playing 13 right now, you know, and I, you know, and I'm hoping we go to sudden death because, you know, I just, I just want to enjoy it. And I did enjoy it. I had a hell of a good time and a great run and I met so many cool people. I'm talking to you right now. You know, this,

you know, I mean, come on. Walt Noe says he's the luckiest guy in the world. Listen, there's a lot of room on that planet for lucky guys. and I feel like I'm on it with him. No doubt about it. Mikey, I had some. Yeah, I mean, take the front of the locks off. She might be making out with with a new guy, but that guy is ugly, man. Just just go ahead and just watch it. Ain't the 11. That's for sure. I'm trying to about that. Yeah. Stan doesn't love that new guy the way he loves you. I don't care what I don't care how he looks at them. Yeah, you know, the problem is I can't stay up that way. I mean, I mean, I'm in bed before that show goes on and I was sitting out there with Stan some nights going like, man, how did we do this five nights a week? Because you know, when

now we're doing it like, re nights week and back east, you know, we were coming on at one in the morning. I was getting off at three going to bed at five in the morning and yeah, I wasn't a young guy. I started at ESPN when I was 38. You know, I was a late, I was a late ad. I was a late find. And you know, and I just continually outkicked the coverage. And then I was like, okay, now I'm a made man. And but whoa, I'm in my wife says I'm going to bed. I'm like, I'm going to bed too.

What time you getting to bed, Neil? Like eight? No, nine. Yeah, nine, two, three. Mikey, I'm free. They're all old. Sarah. Poor fan pelt's up at midnight still.

Oh, yeah. For now, at least. Anyway, yeah, for now at least. Yeah. Anyway, Neil, thank you so much. It was a great not a good run, a great run. And Mikey A and I both mean it when we say top five sports center anchor. I'll put you ahead of Berman. I will. And I am. I'm putting you ahead of Chris Berman. How about that? Well, see, he sent a whole nother league. So, yeah. I remember him more with TJ than I do on sports center though, like, you know? Yeah, but you know, I mean he's just, you know, you got to give those guys, you know, Steiner, they built it. Yeah. Yeah, and, and you know, Linda Cone, even Linda's still there, but you know, you know, she, you know,

Hall of Fame, those guys are, you know, those are the people that, you know, it's funny, like, I remember real quick, because I know you're, you know, I remember, like, the first time I did a show with Dan Patrick, the first time I did a show with Kenny Main, uh, I was like, I'm on the air with Dan Patrick, I'm on air with Kenny Main, like, what, like, what's going on here? Like, I thought, I'm the guy who, you know, like I walk backwards into the movie theater when the show was letting out so that I could get in, you know what I mean? And it was like, I'm here.

And what a great time. Don't wake me up, man. Even though I'm not there anymore, it's still, I'm still living the dream. I don't think people understand that. Like for people, at least for me, who grew up watching Sports Center and ESPN so much, what it was like the first time I was on first take or when I was

I was the guest picker on college game day because A-Rod and JLo had to cancel and that poor camera crew woke up that morning thinking they were going to A-Rod and JLo's house and ended up at line heels. That's a good story. I had to turn that story. Oh yeah, it's a great story. But yeah, working with those people and having conversations with Dan Patrick and have them be friends of mine till this day, and I'm certain you feel the same way and you do, was it meant a lot. It meant for a kid growing up, one of the be a broadcaster, it meant more meeting those guys that it has the relationship that I've developed here with Travis Kelsey or Aaron Rodgers. I'm not sure if you're going to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the

chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the

chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the

chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get the chance to get catch up in person. We'll do. We appreciate you. You've always been kind to me with the exact right words at the right time when I needed them, Neil. So thank you very, very much. I sent them right back to you exactly what you wrote to me. But it was a great run, man. I'm happy for you. And good luck with what's next and what's next is what's goes for a correspondent for the Dan Levitard show with Stegas,

okay? Long may you run, brother. Long May you run, brother. Long May you run, sir. I'm gonna make this happen, you and I gonna roll together, okay? All right, brother. Long, Mike.